Laeta Kalogridis (Shutter Island) and Patrick Lussier (My Bloody Valentine 3D) are currently putting together a Terminator 5 script for Ellison, nearly two years after the budding Hollywood power player purchased the Terminator franchise rights. Some of our readers have speculated that the plan is for T5 to return the series to its roots, by resurrecting the format of James Cameron’s original movie – which combines slasher tropes with sci-fi pop action – and moving away from the mythos building that culminated in Terminator Salvation (similar to how Riddick is taking the Vin Diesel franchise back to its Pitch Black origin, after Chronicles of Riddick). That would explain the hiring of a writing duo like Kalogridis and Lussier, who have complimentary backgrounds in the sci-fi and horror genre. Schwarzenegger – attending a London junket for The Last Stand - confirmed that he’s set to appear in Terminator 5 (via Bleeding Cool). Obviously, the screen icon is no longer convincing as the ageless T-800; though, if the story introduces Arnold as, say, a crusty fighter in the war against Skynet – one who the machines view as a fitting model for their new line of robots – his presence might avoid becoming a burden (or feeling shoehorned in). Not to mention, it could allow overriding (or just ignoring) of events in Salvation, which is something Justin Lin hinted at doing back when he was directing.

Laeta Kalogridis (Shutter Island) and Patrick Lussier (My Bloody Valentine 3D) are currently putting together a Terminator 5 script for Ellison, nearly two years after the budding Hollywood power player purchased the Terminator franchise rights. Some of our readers have speculated that the plan is for T5 to return the series to its roots, by resurrecting the format of James Cameron’s original movie – which combines slasher tropes with sci-fi pop action – and moving away from the mythos building that culminated in Terminator Salvation (similar to how Riddick is taking the Vin Diesel franchise back to its Pitch Black origin, after Chronicles of Riddick). That would explain the hiring of a writing duo like Kalogridis and Lussier, who have complimentary backgrounds in the sci-fi and horror genre. Schwarzenegger – attending a London junket for The Last Stand - confirmed that he’s set to appear in Terminator 5 (via Bleeding Cool). Obviously, the screen icon is no longer convincing as the ageless T-800; though, if the story introduces Arnold as, say, a crusty fighter in the war against Skynet – one who the machines view as a fitting model for their new line of robots – his presence might avoid becoming a burden (or feeling shoehorned in). Not to mention, it could allow overriding (or just ignoring) of events in Salvation, which is something Justin Lin hinted at doing back when he was directing.

Everyone and his dog gets it that Arnold needs to play a human resistance fighter in this one. I hope the producers get that as well.

"Going back to the roots" is a bad thing in this case. I don't want to see yet another "Terminator travels back in time and needs to be stopped". I want to see the full scale future war that we've seen hinted at in T1 and T2, and how they defeat Skynet, and start the time traveling loop.

Wait - brainstorm. I got it. Humans finally overthrow Skynet and send Reese back in the action-packed opening sequence, only to face a new nightmare: the invasion of, and war against, the xenomorphs. With the remaining machine units (mostly) safely under human control, it's... Terminator vs. Aliens!

I just don't want to see more shit like "Rise" and "salvation." I really don't. I don't care if Arnold is rolling around in a wheelchair going "TERMIN-ATE! TERMIN-ATE!" as long as the producers lay prostrate at the altar of Cameronus Magnus and continue what he started.

I'm pretty sure all the fretting over him playing a Terminator is without merit. For all we like to slag off Hollywood and lament its lack of originality and good ideas, I'm pretty sure even they're not stupid enough to think a 70-year-old Terminator is going to fly with anyone.

I'm pretty sure all the fretting over him playing a Terminator is without merit. For all we like to slag off Hollywood and lament its lack of originality and good ideas, I'm pretty sure even they're not stupid enough to think a 70-year-old Terminator is going to fly with anyone.

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On the other hand... a Terminator's flesh hull was supposed to get old, too. It's a machine underneath, right?

I'm pretty sure all the fretting over him playing a Terminator is without merit. For all we like to slag off Hollywood and lament its lack of originality and good ideas, I'm pretty sure even they're not stupid enough to think a 70-year-old Terminator is going to fly with anyone.

Click to expand...

On the other hand... a Terminator's flesh hull was supposed to get old, too. It's a machine underneath, right?

Click to expand...

I don't recall them ever saying specifically that the flesh would age, just that it would sweat, bleed, heal minor wounds...etc. I suppose it's possible though.

Still think it would make more sense to have him as the basis for the design. Maybe a captured resistance hero that they try and replace to subvert the resistance from within, and just end up keeping the template for further models.